UpdateHong Kong pollution soars as city experiences smoggiest day of the year

Index equals previous smoggiest day as authorities say pollution will linger over weekend

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Toxic pollution over Hong Kong. Photo: AFP

Published: 1:15pm, 19 Sep 2014Updated: 3:29pm, 27 Apr 2015

Hongkongers awoke to one of the smoggiest days of the year on Friday as weather conditions left the city choking on pollution that represented a 'serious risk' to health.

At 4pm, all 15 monitoring stations operated by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) were recording "very high" or "serious" levels of pollution, the most severe category. All but two general stations and all roadside stations were at level 10+, the highest level on the government's Air Quality Health Index (AQHI), introduced last year. The PM2.5 level was over 160 for much of the day, more than double the government's limit of 75.

Health officials advise that members of the public "reduce to the minimum" the amount of time they spend outside, particularly in areas of heavy traffic, when the pollution level is “serious".

Employers of outdoor workers are also advised to take appropriate procedures to reduce the risk to their employees.

The EPD last year replaced its old pollution index called API with the air quality health index, which calculates the hospital admission risks brought about by air pollutants. The AQHI index has five categories from “low”, “high” and “very high” to “serious”.

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Index equals previous smoggiest day as authorities say pollution will linger over weekend

Index equals previous smoggiest day as authorities say pollution will linger over weekend